Jack.



PATENTED- JULY 18, 1905.

W. B. TEMPLETON.

JACK.

APPLICATION FILED 001. 22,1902.

2 SHBETB-8HEET 1.

No. 794,901. I PATBNTED JULY 18, 1905.

' W. B. TEMPLETON.

J AGK.

LPPL'IOATIOR nun our. 2,1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET}.

UNITED STATES rammed July is, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

HALTER B. TEMPLETON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

JACK.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WALTER B. TEMPLE- TON, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Jacks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in jacks of that character which are designed for lifting or forcibly moving heavy bodies through the medium of a leverage mechanism.

Among the salient objects of the invention are to provide a mechanism of the utmost simplicity in the construction of its parts, to provide parts so constructed and arranged that they possess the maximum strength combined with simplicity of form, to provide a construction in which the principal operative parts are compactly arranged and efficiently housed, to provide a construction which may be most readily assembled or taken apart and which may also be inspected as to all of its parts without disturbing the operatingmechanism, and in general to provide improvements in the details of construction and arrangement of the mechanism.

To the above ends the invention consists in the matters hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and the invention will be readily understood from the following description by reference to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a jack emembodying the invention, one end of the opcrating-lever being broken off to reduce the size of the figure. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1, but with the side frame-plates removed and the parts shown in changed position. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the jack; Figs. 5 and 6, views similar to Fig. 3, showing various positions assumed by the mechanism in operation. Figs. 7 and 8 are inside face views ofthe upper and lower side plates, respectively. Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional detail taken in a vertical plane coincident with the axis of the main actuating-lever and the central portion of the upper actuating-pawl, and Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 10 10 of Fig. 1.

The invention is shown in the present instance as embodied in an upright or lifting jack generally similar to that patented to H. Holahan, No. 542,257, and is designed for raising heavy partssuch, for example, as the axles of a railway-car; but it is to be understood that the invention is capable of embodiment in other formsas, for example, in a horizontally-acting forcing-jack, such as are commonly employed in the arts.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates as a whole the main frame, which consists of a pillar-like upright member 2, provided in its upper end with a chamber 3 and at its lower end with an integral base 4. The main frame is provided with a vertical way or socket 5, extending entirely through the frame from end to end and within which. is

arranged to reciprocate a rack-bar 6, the

said socket or way 5 being made open at the front side of the standard from the base member upwardly throughout the principal length of the standard, as indicated at 7, to accommodate the toe or lifting-lug S of the rack-bar 6. The rack-bar, as shown clearly in Figs. 3, 5, and 6 of the drawings, extends through the chamber 3, hereinbefore referred to, and is provided upon its rear face throughout practically its entire length with a series of ratchet notches or teeth. 9. A slot-like opening 10 is formed in the rear side of the chambered portion of the main frame to accommodate the end of the main actuatinglever 11, the end of which occupies said slot, and a pivot-bolt is arranged to extend transversely through the main frame and through the lever, as indicated at 12. At its upper side at a point between the pivot 12 and the rack-bar the main actuating-lever is provided with a transverse recess or socket 13, within which is seated the lower end of a pawl 14, which is arranged to incline forwardly at its upper end and engage the teeth of the ratchet-bar 6. The pawl 14 is relatively broad both at its lower and upper ends, so as to be held accurately against lateral oscillation and to engage practically the full width of the rear side of the ratchet-bar, and the in- TO formed a transverse socket or recess 16, within which is seated the lower end of a second and dogging or holding pawl 17, which is also arranged to incline upwardly and forwardly to engage the teeth of the ratchet-bar. This I 5 pawl is likewise desirably made relatively broad and flat and for similar purposes and is furthermore provided at its upper end with a cam projection 18, which is acted upon by the inner end of the main lever to force the pawl into positive engagement with the ratchet-bar. To this end the inner end of the main lever is formed on a curve eccentric to the pivotal axis of the lever, so that as the handle end of the lever is raised the inner 2 5 end thereof, acting upon the lower pawl, forces the latter outward against the ratchet-bar. As a distinct feature of improvement I make the two pawls 14 and 17 counterparts of each other, so that they are interchangeable. The

0 object of this expedient is to prolong the wearing life of the jack, such result being attained by interchanging the positions of the pawls, owing to the fact that the acting or lifting pawl 14 has a rocking engagement with the ratchet-bar during the lifting and lowering movements, while the holding-pawl has no such movement, and accordingly is subject to very little wear upon its engaging end.

Describing now the means whereby the reversal of movement of the ratchet-bar is effected, it is to be understood that the ratchet or lifting bar is moved upwardly step by step positively by operating the main lever; but

5 when the mechanism is reversed the operation of the main lever serves to lower the ratchet-bar under a weight acting thereon, this movement being therefore termed the passive movement.

5c 19 indicates a spring strip or wire. which is suitably connected at its respective ends with the two pawls, as indicated at 20 and 21. In the particular instance shown herein the lower end of the spring is turned at right an- 5 5 gles inwardly and extended through an aperture formed through the pawl, so as to have pivotal connection with the pawl, while the upper end is extended through an eye-lug 22, so that it is susceptible of sliding or endwise 6o movement therethrough. The spring is so formed as to normally tend to assume a straight or approximately straight shape, and means are provided for placing tension upon the central portion of the spring between the two pawls in such manner as to flex said central portion forwardly, so that the spring tends to throw both pawls into bearing with the ratchet-bar or, on the other hand, to flex the central portion of the spring rearwardly, so that both ends thereof tend to throw the pawls out of engagement with the ratchet-bar. The tensioning means are in the present instance constructed and arranged as follows: 23 and 24, Figs. 7 and 8, respectively, designate two removable side plates which serve to close one side of the chamber 3, within which the pawls are located, these side plates being detachably secured in position by means of securingscrews 25 and 26 and cooperating lips 27 and 28. Upon the inner face of the. lower and larger plate 24 is pivotally mounted an arm 29, which is provided at one end with a pair of inwardly-projecting lugs 30, adapted to engage the opposite sides of the spring 19 at a *point midway of the length of the latter and provided at its opposite end with a fork or slot 31. Seated in the side plate 24 is a turnbutton 32, which is located at one side of the pivot-stud 33 of the arm 29 and carries upon its inner face'a stud 33, adapted to extend within and engage the fork or slot 31 of the said arm, the arran ement being such that a partial rotation of t 1e turn-button in one direction or the other serves to oscillate the arm on its pivotal axis, so as to flex the spring forwardly or backwa'rdly. The inner end of the slot 31 is slightly enlarged, so that when the stud 33 occupies the said inner end of the slot and the tension of the spring is acting upon the arm it forms a frictional lock which prevents rotation of the turn-button under the tension of the spring. The relation of the spring 19 to the turn-button is such that when the spring is in its unflexed position the turn-button will be in a position midway of its limits of rotation in the two directions, so that the frictional locking effect is secured when the spring is flexed in either direction to the limits as determined. by the engagement of the stud 33 with the inner end of the slot 31. Referring to Fig. 3, the spring 19 is shown as flexed forwardly, so as to tend to hold both pawls in yielding engagement with the ratchet-bar, the relative position of the tensioning-arm 29 being shown in dotted lines, and, referring to Fig. 6, the spring is shown as flexed in the opposite direction to the position of the tensioning-arm, (indicated in dotted lines also.) The outer side of the turn-button is provided with a suitable fin: ger-hold in the form of a cross bar or web 32, which cross-bar may conveniently serve as a pointer or indicator to determine whether the jack is adjusted for lifting or for lowering.

As a convenient means of securing the lower end of the lifting-pawl in the socket 13 .of the main lever without the necessity of employing a pivot-pin or the like the said lower end of the pawl is provided centrally with a slot 34, (see detail, Fig. 9,) extending therethrough, and the lever is provided with a projecting lip or lug 35,which projects into said slot 34 and prevents the pawl from leaving the socket during the retracting move.- ment of the lever. The lug 35 is so shaped that the pawl may be passed into engagement therewith before the ratchet-bar is placed in position in the main standard and while the pawl is tilted forwardly to a greater extent than is permissible after the ratchetbar is in place. Since there is at no time any considerable tendency of the lower pawl to rise out of its socket, the latter is simply allowed to rest by gravity therein.

The main lever is, as shown herein and as desirably constructed, provided with lugs 36 and 37, which serve to limit the extent of oscillation of the lever in each direction by engagement with the rear side of the main frame.

As a further feature of improvement I provide means whereby the bearing between the main lever 11 and the pivot-bolt 12 is kept thoroughly lubricated and in such manner as to prevent access of dust or dirt to the lubricating-duct and also in such manner as to afford a continuous supply of lubricant. To this end the pivoted end of the main lever 11 is provided with a socket 11, within which fits the end of the lever proper, 11, in a usual manner; but instead of extending in wardly the full depth of said socket 11 said lever is arranged to terminate some distance short of the bottom of the socket, so as to provide a cavity 38, which is filled with cot-- ton waste or similar absorbent adapted to hold a quantity of oil. From the cavity 38 a duct 39 is arranged to extend axially longitudinally of the lever to the pivot-aperture thereof, so as to admit the oil from the cavity to the pivot-bolt 12. It will be obvious that inasmuch as the duct 39 is located entirely within the body of the lever 38 dust and dirt cannot obtain access to said duct, and the latter will therefore at all times remain open and unobstructed, while the oil contained in the absorbent mass of waste within the cavity will be fed down gradually as needed to keep the pivot-bolt thoroughly lubricated. If necessary, the main lever 11 may be withdrawn from the socket and the mass of absorbent material compressed by means of a ram device, so as to force the oil'therefrom into the duct in case it has become so dry as to no longer discharge without compression.

An important feature of the present construction consists in forming the ratchetteeth 9 of the ratchet-bar with holding-faces 9, arranged substantially perpendicular to the angle of inclination of the lifting-pawl 14. In other words, the engaging faces 9 of said teeth are made exactly perpendicular to a line extending through the pivotal axis of the liftingpawl when the latter is in its uppermost position and the center of that tooth of the ratchet-bar next above the one with which said lifting-pawl isthen engaged. The result of thus forming or arranging the acting faces of the ratchet-bar is that either pawl may be disengaged from the ratchetbar as soon as the latter has been raised barely enough to take the weight from the then holding-pawl. Accordingly the actuating-lever 11 need only oscillate a trifle beyond that point at which the weight is transferred from one pawl to the other in order to release or effect its engagement of the pawl, whereas with the teeth constructed as has heretofore commonlybeen the case in liftingjacks of this characternamely, with the acting faces of the teeth substantially perpendicular to the length of the ratchet-bar,

or, in other words, horizontal-it is necessary to move the ratchet-bar a substantial distance to take its tooth entirely out of the arc-shaped path described by the end of the pawl. Inasmuch as the lever must be carried through its entire throw for each tooth of the ratchet-bar, this feature becomes a matter of very considerable importance, and, moreover, it frequently happens that the space within which the lever is working is limited, so that it is important that the throw of the lever be made as short as possible.

The upper end of the ratchet-bar 6 is shown as provided with a slight enlargement or head 6, which head is made in the form of a detachable piece in order that the parts may be assembled. The device may be assembled by first placing the main lever in position and inserting and securing the pivotbolt thereof, next placing the pawls in proper engagement with their respective sockets or seats and engaging the spring 19 therewith, then before the head-piece 6 of the ratchetbar has been attached passing the ratchetbar upwardly through the base of the main frame and out at the top of the standard, after which the head-piece 6 is attached and the side plates 23 and 24 secured in position. In placing the latter plate in position the arm 29 must be properly engaged with the tension-spring.

The operation of the jack is probably entirely obvious, but may be briefly described as follows: Assuming that it be de sired to lift a weight resting either upon the upper end of the ratchet-bar or upon the lift ing lu or toe 8 thereof, the turn-button is shifted to the position shown in Fig. 1, or that position in which the pawl-spring is flexed forwardly. If new the actuatinglever be oscillated up and down, the lower pawl acts as a detent which holds the ratchetbar during the upward movement of the lever which withdraws or lowers the upper pawl, and upon the downward movement of the lever the upper pawl acts as a pushpawl to force the ratchet-bar upwardly one step. When it is desired to lower the ratchet-bar, the turn-button is rotated to its opposite position, whereupon the tension of the spring tends to throw bothpawls out of engagement with the ratchet-bar, and when the actuating-lever is lowered the lower pawl will be free to be withdrawn and will be held away from the ratchet-bar. If now the lever be raised, the upper pawl will obviously be lowered, and with it the ratchet-bar, until as the lever approaches the upper limit of its movement the eccentric-shaped cam-surface thereof, acting upon the lower pawl, will force the latter into engagement with the ratchet-bar and arrest and hold the latter. As soon as the ratchet-bar has thus been arrested a slight further upward movement of the lever and lowering movement of the upper pawl will release the latter from the ratchet-bar, whereupon it will be thrown back by the sprin clear from the bar. During the return or downward movement of the lever the ratchet-bar will be su ported immovably by the lower pawl, and the weight resting upon said pawl will prevent it from being disengaged under the tension of the spring. As the upper pawl again approaches its upper limits of movement its upper end will be forced into engagement with the ratchet-bar by the guide-surface 15, and after it is fully engaged with the ratchet-bar a slight further upward movement of said pawl will take the weight from the lower pawl, whereupon the latter will fly back, thus releasing the ratchet-bar, to be lowered upon the succeeding upward movement of the lever.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the stationary or dogging pawl 17 has no movement whatever relatively to the ratchetbar during the time the weight of the latter is upon said pawl; but as to the upper or lifting pawl this does have a rocking movement while it is engaged with the ratchet-bar and is either raising or lowering the latter, this movement being due to the fact that the lower end of the pawl is being moved in an arc concentric with the pivotal axis of the main lever. Such rocking movement obviously tends to wear the acting end of the pawl much more rapidly than is the case with the lower holding-pawl, and accordingly the feature of making the pawls interchangeable becomes an important one and one which adds very materially to the life of the mechanism. It will also be observed 7 that the construction of the mechanism is such that the pawls and spring are completely housed within the casing and are thus kept free from dirt and dust, as Well as protected against injury.

While I have shown herein a preferred and extremely practical embodiment of the invention, yet, as hereinbefore indicated, the details of construction may be modified'without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not, therefore, limit myself to these details except to the extent that they are made the subject of specific claims.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a jack provided with a ratchetbar,

a pair of cooperating pawls arranged to act upon the same side of said ratchetbar, a spring operatively engaged with said pawls, and means for tensioning said springcomprising a pivoted'arm mounted to oscillate in a plane parallel with the line of tensioning movement of the spring and operatively engaged with the latter at a point between said pawl-engaging portions, a turn-button mounted to rotate in a plane parallel with the plane of movement of said arm, and an eccentrically-located slot-and-pin connection between said arm and turn-button, for the purpose set forth.

2. In a jack provided with a ratchet-bar, a pair of cooperating pawls arranged to act upon the same side of said ratchet-bar, a spring operatively engaged with said pawls, and means for tensioning said spring comprising a pivoted arm mounted to oscillate in a plane parallel with the line of tensioning movement of the spring and operatively engaged with the latter at a point between said pawl-engaging portions, a turn-button mounted to rotate in a plane parallel with the plane of movement of said arm, and an eccentrically-located slot-and-pih connection between said arm and turnbutton, one end of said slot terminating in a pin-engaging recess, substantially as described.

3. In a jack having areciprocatoryratchetbar, a pair of cooperating pawls arranged to act upon the same side of the ratchet, a spring extending between and directly engaging both of said pawls, and means for tensioning said spring to cause it to act upon both pawls simultaneously to press the same into engagement with the ratchet-bar, or to retract the pawls, said tension mechanism comprising an arm pivotally mounted between its ends to the supporting-frame and operatively engaged at one end with said spring, a slot in the opposite end of said arm provided at one end with a pin-engaging enargement, and a turn button rotatably mounted adjacent to said arm and provided with an eccentrically-located pin engaging said slot, said turn -button being rovided with a finger-hold extending outsi e of the j ackcasin ,substantially as described.

4. In a ifting-jack, the combination with a pawl-carrying lever, provided with a transverse groove-like pawl-seat, of a pawl having its pivotal'end engaged with said seat, a recess formed in the body of the pawl radially outside of said pivotal axis, and a lip upon said lever engaging the recess of said pawl and forming in'effect a partial closure of the open side of said pawl-seat, substantially as described.

5. In a jack, the combination of the main standard provided-in its upper end with a pawl-mechanism chamber, a ratchet-bar arranged to reciprocate through said chamber, a pair of pawls arranged to act upon the same side of said ratchet-bar, a spring extending between and operatively engaged with said pawls, and a main actuating-lever pivoted upon said frame and having its end arranged to extend within said chamber, and operatively connected with one of said pawls, a portion of the side wall of said chamber being removable and having therein a tensioning mechanism acting upon said spring, for the purpose set forth.

6. In a jack, the combination of a ratchetbar and a pivoted pawl arranged to act thereon, the engaging faces of the ratchet-teeth being formed substantially perpendicular to a line extending from the center of the face of each tooth when in position of engagement by the pawl through the pivotal axis of the pawl. a

7. In a jack, the combination with the main frame, of a reciprocatory ratchet-bar arranged to move therein, a bodily-movable actuating-pawl and a holding-pawl immov able exce t upon its pivotal axis, said pawls being ma e counterparts of each other whereby they are interchangeable, for the purpose set forth. i

8. In a jack, the combination with a main frame, of an actuating-lever pivotally mounted thereon, said actuating-lever comprising a pivoted head-piece transversely apertured to receive a pivot-bolt and having therein a lever-socket extending axially thereof and communicating with said transverse pivotbolt aperture, substantially as described.

9. 111 a jack, the combination with a main frame, of an actuating-lever pivotally mounted thereon, said actuating-lever comprising a pivoted head-piece transversely apertured to receive a pivot-bolt and having therein a lever-socket extending axially thereof and communicating with said transverse pivotbolt aperture, a lever-body occupying the principal length of said socket, and a filling of absorbent material between the end of said lever-body and the inner end of the socket, as and for the purpose set forth.

WALTER B. TEMPLETON.

Witnesses:

ALBERT H. GRAvEs, FREDERICK O. GooDwIN. 

